Fort Apache




No questions.

Fort Apache marks the first installment of John Ford's cavalry trilogy, and in many ways this is the beginning of his attempts to deconstruct the myths of the Old West.

Lt. Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda) and his daughter Philadelphia (Shirley Temple) have just been transferred to the frontier at Fort Apache. Colonel Thursday brings with him his disgruntlement at being posted in such a remote assignment. His strict policies go against what the men are used to and occasionally what is required on the frontier. Fortunately, he has the seasoned Captain York (John Wayne) there with him. Meanwhile, his proper young daughter develops a crush for the strapping Lieutenant O'Rourke (John Agar, then Temple's real husband).

Most of the time is spent dealing with the various dealings on the fort itself, such as fleshing out the characters and their opinions of each other. Sometimes bits with the new recruits are thrown in for some comic relief. Colonel Thursday is revealed to be a fairly good leader, but the prospect of grabbing glory smolders all too visibly in this former general. While fictional, this story draws from the Fetterman and Custer plights. It also shows how the truth of something can be obscured by the legend that stems from it, much like in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The Indians are also shown to be much less than the savages they were usually portrayed as at that time.

The film does take awhile to get to its point, and while that's not much of a negative, it seems that some of its time could've been spent better. Some of the stuff is interesting, but things like the flirting between Philadelphia and Lieutenant O'Rourke is cute and little else. Those expecting big action probably will be disappointed, as the battles are more stylized, usually abstaining from showing the actual action and rather implying the outcome when the dust settles. In many ways this is a commendable technique.

Henry Fonda is superb as the stiff Colonel, and his complete personality comes out over time slowly. John Wayne doesn't really have much of a part until later on, but he works well as the thoughtful opposite to the Colonel. And the two lovebirds (John Agar and a nearly grown up Shirly Temple) do all right by their parts, but theirs is a less mature relationship.

The themes are noble and Ford's direction is as sure as ever, once again capturing the beauty of Monument Valley.



-The Gnome